Insights & Information

An editorial published by The New York Times acknowledges the bipartisan efforts in States across the country to reduce their reliance on incarceration for nonviolent offenders. The editorial cites a new study by the Pew Center on the States, which finds that longer prison sentences cost states an exorbitant amount. In fact, states spent over $10 billion for the additional average 9 months in prison per offender released in 2009 (compared to average sentence lengths in 1990). Greater than half the cost is attributable to nonviolent offenders. The Times notes that the Pew study also concludes that earlier release for nonviolent offenders would not have created an additional public safety risk, based on an examination of arrest and incarceration statistics from Florida, Maryland, and Michigan, and could even be further reduced through enhanced prerelease planning and supervision in the community.